Kinhai

Kinhai village located in the KoregaonTaluka of Satara District of Maharashtra state of India. All BHOSALE's are living in the village. Village is famous for his yatra at that day two sister (DEVIS) meet in the village once in the year. This village is divided in two parts one is Pantanchi Kinhai and other one is Peth Kinhai.The town is convert|2320|ft|m|abbr=on above sea level.

Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)(Koreganv T; 17° N, 74° E; RS. Satara Road, 5 m.p. 2,200)

District(s) SataraImp. Codes

• Pincode • 415 021• Telephone • +02371

• Vehicle • MH-11

Kinhai (Koreganv T; 17° N, 74° E; RS. Satara Road, 5 m.p. 2,200) seven miles (11 km) almost due north of Koregaoa is a village which belonged to the Pant Pratinidhi. It was a village of the former princely State of Aundh and was included in Koreganv taluka after the merger of the princely States. Kinhai is best reached from Koreganv by following the Pandharpur road for a mile and then taking a track which branches off due north and passes by Cinch village on to a made road originally built by the Pant Pratinidhi. The village lies on either bank of a feeder of the Vasna which always holds water. The soil is good and the country round thickly studded with mangoes. To the north and north-west is a spur of steep hills at the end of which rises the ancient fort of Nandgiri (3,537). On the south-east are two small hills divided by a gorge to the east of which is the temple of Yamnai Devi, the patron goddess of the Pratinidhi family. This temple of Yamnai Devi has a fortified appearance and with its battlements and towers is visible for many miles on all sides throughout the Koreganv taluka. The village consists of a broad street running north-west and south-east and crossing the stream into the Peth or market quarters and thence continuing to the road mentioned up towards the temple and on through the small gorge between the two hills to Koreganv. The Pratinidhi had a handsome mansion or vada in the village, the lower part of stone and the upper part of brick with an enclosure or court surrounded by strong walls. The mansion contains some reception rooms of handsome size and proportions in the local style. Usually one of the wives and a son of the Pratinidhi resided there. The mansion now houses the office of the vahivatdar of the Kinhai Wards' Estate and a District School Board School. On the right bank of the stream behind the Pant's mansion is a small temple of Mahadev about thirty feet by fifteen with a flight of steps leading down to the stream. It consists of an open sided mandap and an image-chamber with a spire. The pillars are imitations of the early Hindu style. The spire is of brick with stone ornamentation. The temple of Yamnai Devi lies on the summit of a somewhat pointed hill about 350 to convert|400|ft|m above the plain. The way up to it is by the road before mentioned which close to the gorge is left on the right for a flight of 300 steps with a stone balustrade on each side. The steps are made of slabs quarried from the surrounding rock and are in excellent repair. Numbers of people may be seen ascending and descending the steps on Tuesday and Friday, the holy days of the goddess. The temple court, irregular and nearly oval is entered from the west by a pointed archway with a music chamber or nagarkhana on the top. The rock is fenced with a solid masonry wall about twelve feet high from inside, and outside in places from thirty to forty feet high. At the eastern end is a small entrance from a path communicating with a spring half-way down the south slope of the hill. There are cloisters with a terrace on the left or south side of this entrance and on the north a large solid but plain lamp pillar or dipmal. The pillar was broken years ago by lightning and as this was said to be the third time of its being struck, it was thought ominous to repair it. The temple is a plain structure about forty feet by twenty feet with a flat roofed hall or mandap supported on three rows of four pillars about eighteen inches square at the base and plain imitations of the early Hindu style. The image-chamber or gabhara is square and contains an image of devi in black stone ornamented with jewels and embroidered apparel and displayed with much pomp by means of a mirror casting light upon it from outside. The courtyard is paved and immediately in front of the mandap is a stone embedded in the pavement and containing vents made to receive coins to be laid in them for presentation to the goddess. A yearly fair is held, in her honour from Kartik Paurnima onwards for 15 days, when about 10,000 people attend.

The Pratinidhi family were hereditary kulkarnis or accountants of Kinhai and several of the neighbouring villages and it was from that position that Parashuram Trimbak raised himself till he was appointed the third Pratinidhi in 1,700.

References

External links

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

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Geography

Satara is located at coord|17.68|N|73.98|E|. [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/16/Satara.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Satara] ] It has an average elevation of 742 metres (2434 ft).

The Sahyadri range,

Tourist spots around Kinhai Village

Panchgani

Panchgani, is a small hill-station in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is located amidst five small hills, from which it derives its name (panch in marathi means five). All these 5 hills are topped by a volcanic plateau which is the second highest in Asia after the Tibetan plateau. These plateaus are known in the local term as "Table Land". These plateaus are part of the Deccan plateau and were raised by the pressure between the earth plates. Because of this it is also an area of high seismic activity with epicenter near Koynanagar which is famous of the Koynanagar dam and hydroelectric power plant. It is located about 265 km from Mumbai and has breathtaking valleys, winding rivers, scenic mountains and scattered hamlets. It attracts many tourists throughout the year, and many Mumbaites visit it as a weekend escape. Some go further, opening resorts which they themselves own, but rent out during certain seasons. There is a Ganesh Temple at Wai, which is located close by. The temperature in Panchgani is around 16 C during the winter and can soar up to 35 C during the summer. There are many elite boarding schools in Panchgani and it has been used as a location to film a number of Bollywood movies. The British set up numerous tuberculosis sanitoriums in Panchgani due to the presence of silver oak trees, which were considered therapeutic.The main attractions are: Table land, Parsi point, Sydney point. [1] Panchgani now faces immense environmental pressures due to commercial activities, opening of illegal hotels, vehicles and temperature inversion (due to humidity) from various new dams built to store water in the vicinity.
Freddie Mercury attended St Peter's school in Panchgani where he formed his first band, The Hectics (1958-1962.)

Mahabaleshwar

Mahabaleshwar is a hill station located in the Satara District in the Western Ghats range of Maharashtra, India. Located about 120 km from Pune and 285 km from Mumbai, Mahabaleshwar is a vast plateau measuring 150 km², bound by valleys on all sides. Many tourists also visit nearby Panchgani. After the construction of a new highway, it is only a five hour drive from Mumbai.It reaches a height of 1438 m (4710 ft) at its highest peak above sea level, known as Wilson/Sunrise Point.Mahabaleshwar, "The Queen of Hill Stations", served as the summer capital of Bombay province during the British Raj, and today is a popular holiday resort and honeymoon spot.The area is also an important pilgrimage site for Hindus, and is the site of the Mahabaleshwar Temple.Mahabaleshwar comprises three villages, Malcolm Peth, Old "Kshetra" Mahabaleshwar and part of the Shindola village.The first historical mention of Mahabaleshwar dates back to year 1215 when the King Singhan of Deogiri visited Old Mahabaleshwar. Present Mahabaleshwar came into existence in the year 1829-30 and from old records is mentioned as Malcolm Peth, but in practise today it is known as Mahabaleshwar.

Pateshwar

Tourism has been a prominent industry nowadays and in the last decade it has seen a mammoth growth in turnover and tourists inlay. Though the horizons of this industry are left with no bounds, as it has been an inter-continental affair. Still there are certain places around us, which are hardly been explored. Pateshwar alias Patheshwar aka Surya Patheshwar is one such place near Satara where one can find copious archaic sculptures.

On Mumbai-Bangalore National Highway No. 4, after passing Satara city, take left on Satara-Solapur state highway. Just after one kilometre, take Satara-Addl MIDC road leading to Degaon. This is just nine-kilometer distance from Satara ST Bus terminus. Go south for four kilometres and after leaving village Degaon, you find a long, green stretch of the Western Gahts, adjacent to Janai Malai Hill. From roads, you won’t find any structure on the Pateshwar Hill as the entire hill is wrapped in a green thick blanket of trees. The jungle is of semi-deciduous type with teak, banyan, Jajmun, Karvee and other tree varieties. With lyrical notes of an Indian Robin or Whistling Barbet, one can find serene environ with cool feeling.

Then starts a muddy road followed by well-maintained tar road that takes you on the mid part of the hill. On the way, you need to park your vehicle near a precipice from where you can take a panoramic view of the same National Highway that takes you to Kolhapur. You can see Sajjangad, Urmodi Dam on one side and Satara MIDC on the other.

Wait! At the beginning of steps, you find a Lord Ganesha idol with Ridhi-Sidhi, his wives. The feminine sitting posture makes you think what it might be. History books say, it was the time when, Ganesha to kill a demon, had to appear in a woman form. And from here the mystery begins. More you go on the hill; you find two different Lord Shiva temples and an Ahsram, recently built by Swami Govindanand, one local saint.

In the closet vicinity of the first Hemadpanti Shiva Temple, you find many pieces of statuettes around it and the sidewalls of the temple consists of cave-like openings on the either sides of entrance. One of such never-seen-before engrave has a huge Shivalinga and the other consists of a Hanuman idol. The premises also comprise of two big Deepmalas.

Once you enter the main temple, you find superbly carved Nandi statue in front of the Shivlinga. Another stupendous thing you will find just in front of the Nandi. The miniature figurine gives a view of wedding scene of Lord Shiva and Parvati. On the either sides of main temple there are small temples where you find iconic idols of Kartikeya and another Nandi with a human face. The 18-armed Goddess Mahishasur Mardidni carving is in similar context with that of Kalikamata of Kolkata. In the temple itself, you will find sculpture of Lord Vishnu sitting on the snake and both in horizontal position.

After paying obeisance to the Lord Shiva you move to the eastern part of the hill and on the way again, you find stone-carved cave-like structures, filled with water. These all three cave-lets are again with Shivlingas of various sizes and some unknown kind of god statues. There is one stone-constructed water tank called Hatti Talab around these cave like temples. Normally it has been understood that all Shivlingas have their pointed opening towards North direction, but here one can find omni-directional opening.

From here you take left turn and move towards upper part and you find a temple as if it has been emerged out of soil. This three-sectioned temple begins with a Deepmala, followed by a Nandi. This whole temple is at sub-ground level hence lot of water logging has been seen. The either sides of this temple too consist of cave-like structures and numerous Shivlingas in different forms and the number of Salunki range from three to 100.

Now comes the haunting part of the Pateshwara. You enter the main temple and find a Maha Shiva Linga carved with minute necklace-like linings on it. These are nothing but 551 small Pindis carved on the main Pindi. All the walls are carved with such minute Pindis and the total number of such Pindis is not less than 1,008. The main Pindia deeped in water has exclusivity of the kind and there are number of carvings on the monolithic poles of the temple that you are left spell bound. One snake-like carving, sculptures of the eight Avatars of Lord Vishnu and even you will notice linguistic carvings in Modi script on one of the poles.

Wait, take breath, and see around with caution, you may find white skin on Cobra floating in water. Certainly, snakes do reside there. Take breath, have a sigh of relief and then pay your obeisance to this mesmerising lord Shiva. There were some geographical sculptures like Solar Clock earlier, but now almost all the sculptures are in dilapidated condition, as nobody knows the significance of it.

Historians, sculptresses, art-lovers and geography experts are required to carry out research at Pateshwar and they may come out with awesome findings. The place has not been even recognised by the tourism department, forests or any other government department. Only a religious trust looks after and on the last Monday of Shravan month, one can see a religious get together of the devotees of Lord Shiva. After completing the entire hill, you start climbing down the hill left spell bound with the mesmerising things.

A book written by a Satara-based historian R K Dhongade has written a book titled ‘39 Lakh-year-old Our Country-Our Religion’ in Marathi. The book is all about Pateshwar and it mentions that in the pre-historian era, there had been a geographical observatory of one mystic Saptarshi. This soothsayer carried out various experiments to calculate time, decide days of month and year and study the biological clock of nature on the basis of tracking of the sun. According to him Pateshwar has been the origin of Hindu religion and culture. One can find references of Pateshwar in Bhagvad Geeta and Matsya Purana, Dhongade says.

Ajinkyatara

Satara city is situated on the slope of this hill fort. The fort is located at 17°40'21.87"N 73°59'44.46"E. The Temple of Mangalai Devi is on the fort. Other temples are of Hanuman & Shiv. Apart from temple you can find Television & Radio broadcasting towers on this fort. You can drive up to the main gate and can see a beautiful view of Satara city and Parali from here. You can also see Sajjan gadh.

Yawateshwar

A famous and old shiv temple on the east side of satara city. Many people do pilgrimage on Monday's of marathi month Shravan. It is about five km away from Satara. You can walk from Satara or get there by road. You can have Sai Baba temple on the road. You can take a bird's eye view of Satar city & Kanher Dam while on the road to temple.

Kaas Lake

Further going eastward from Yawateswar, Kaas Lake is situated on Kaas Platau. It is about 26 km away from Satara city and accessible by road. Built in 1875 the lake provides most supply of drinking water to the old city. This is also a famous picnic spot for the rainy season.

Bamnoli

Bamnoli is about 36 km from Satara city and is situated on the bank of Koyana Dam backwater. Though there is nothing at Bamnoli, it is basically a last road stop for people who want to go Koyana Sanchury from satara city. From here you can take a motor boat to see Tapola which is famous for water sport.

Sajjangad

Sajjangad is place of great saint Samartha Ramdas Swami. Ramdas Swami is famous for his message of mental and physical exercise. He established temples of god Hanuman all across Maharashtra and India. These temples was meant for exercise known as 'Talim'. He was Chatrapathi Shivaji's spiritual guru. His writings 'Manache Shlok'-Thoughts of Mind, and Dasbodh teaches principles of life through simplest way. You can see Saint Ramdas Swami's tomb here. This is also a Hill fort visited by thousands of pilgrims and trekking entusiasts. You can reach by road almost up the fort followed by climb of 100 steps to reach on top. Accommodation is available from charity trust. Fort gives great views of scenic beauty, most watchfull is view of Urmodi Damn, windfarms of Chalkewadi. And apart from all gives sense of mental peace because of its unmatchable climate, beauty and spirituality.

Thoseghar Waterfall

To reach this waterfall you have to drive little further on same road of Sajjangadh from Satara. This fall is approximately 100 m high.

Chalkewadi

Satara is put on international map of renewable energy source due to over 100 windmills build on Chalkewadi plateau. Installed capacity of windmill project is around 350 MW second largest in India until 2006.

Nandgiri or Kalyangad Fort

(Koreganv T; 18° N, 74° E; RS, Satara Road, 2 m. w;) 3,537 feet above sea level, stands at the end of a spur of the Mahadev range running south-west from the villages of Vikhale and Bhadle, eight miles (13 km) north of Koreganv and about fourteen miles (21 km) north-east of Satara. It is separated from the rest of the spur by a small gorge or Khind and stands on a lower hill than the Candan Vandan range close to its north-west. It forms, therefore, a less conspicuous object from Satara than the Candan Vandan twins, though from the south it comes prominently in view as it forms the southern extremity of the spur dividing the Vangna and Vasna valleys. The hill sides are very steep and rugged and the scarp is very perfect. There is no regular approach and the ascent is made by very tortuous and precipitous footpaths from Dhumalvadi the village immediately at the foot of the hill to the east to the first gate directly above the village and facing north. Though easy at first, the ascent becomes very steep afterwards and much blocked by prickly pear. Halfway up in a ravine is a good spring and pond known as the Kham pond, the water of which is not potable. The pond is hollowed out of the rock in three divisions and the roof is supported by pillars. The water is abundant. [Mr. H. R. Cooke, C. S., found that perhaps the most remarkable feature on the hill was its water-supply. Immediately after entering the lower gate a steep footpath descends within the western was into a hollow at the bottom of the scarp. The hollow is about forty or fifty feet deep. When the bottom is reached the entrance to a huge cavern is seen which can only be reached by stooping. The cavern is full of water but very dark. Outside the gate and to the north there evidently were huge caverns but these have been built up with rough masonry.] The fort has two gateways the one below the other connected by steps. The first gate faces north, the path turning abruptly as it is reached. Within is a hollow used formerly for stores. From the inside facing east is another cave pond called the Gavi also full of good water. The entrance to it is protected by a wall. This cave pond is very difficult of access, the way being thickly blocked with prickly pear. The second gateway of mortared stone leads out into the plateau, which is about two hundred yards high by one hundred broad with many ruined buildings, and four chief ponds inside the second gate. The first pond is about ninety feet by forty in area and twenty feet deep, its sides made of large blocks of masonry. Another smaller one is near the eastern face; a third is in a hollow stopped with an earthen dam; and the fourth is a small one near the south wall. The fort walls are in a state of bad repair. There are no buildings inside the fort except the temple of God Maruti. There are also idols of Dattatraya and Parasnath. It is said that the water of the pond is good for health. Even though water is available abundantly there is no habitation on the fort. The temple of Maruti was renovated by Dahanebuva of Ninapadali. The tomb of Abdul Karim, a Musalman Saint which is inside the fort is still visited by a few people. An Urus is held in his honour for five days before Holi Paurnima. The fort was the head-quarters of an administrative sub-division with a treasury and had an establishment of a mamlatdar, phadnis, sabnis, havaldar and daffedar, two karkuns, three naiks, and one hundred and sixty sepoys. According to tradition the fort was built by the Silahara king Bhoj II, of Panhala [Grant Duff's Marathas, Vol. I, 27.] . In 1673 with other Satara forts it was surrendered to Shivaji [Grant Duffs Marathas, Vol. I, 202.] . The Pratinidhi, administered it till his struggle with Bajirav, the second Peshva (1720-1740). In 1791 Major Price describes it as looking like the hull of a ship of war with opposite it another hill with on its summit some places of devotion [Memoirs of a Field Officer, 261.] . In the last Maratha war it fell to the army of General Pritzler in April, 1818. In 1862, it is described as a dismantled and uninhabited fort with a steep approach and a strong gateway but no water and no supplies [Government List of Civil Forts, 1862.] .